Tray



May 31 1927' CLARKE TRAY Filed May 4, 1925 @i/zaaizfwftray employed for curb Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' Application filed May 4, 1925. Serial no. 21,007.

M invention relates to trays and more partmularly to a curb serv ce tray for automobilists, and, the invention 15 a distlnct and practical improvement in curb servlce trays to overcome certam practlcal ob ections to, and defects in, the usual type of service.

The object of my present invention 1s to provide a curb service tray adapted to be removably supported by the door of an automobile body and positioned within the body so as to obviate the necessity of occupants of the vehicle holding a tray upon their laps, or holding a dish, glass'or other article in their hand, or hands while partaking of food, or drink at the curb 0 places serving refreshments, etc. I a v 0 A further object of the mvention-is to provide a novel tray, and more particularly an automobile curb service tray, but as is obvious, not necessarily limited thereto, which will possess advanta es in points'of simplicity, efficiency, durabllity and at the same time prove itself comparatwely inexpensive in point of manufacture.

' With the above and other ob ects 1n vlew, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended. 1

Referrmg to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like' characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1, is a view in perspective of a tray embodying the features of my invention and shown as applied to a'vehicle door.

Fig. 2, is a side elevation thereof, with the tray proper shown open or serviceable position, and in dptted lines its non-serviceable folded position.

Fig. 3, is a vertical sectional view of the device with a portion of the tray broken away.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 represents the door of an automobile, referably a sedan, or coup door with the gass panel or window 2 thereof in its lowermost position, while the dotted lines 3 in Fig. 2 represent a roadster or touring car door of a motor vehicle.

In carrying out the aim of my resent I invention, I em lo I a suitable metalhc tray referably dished to designated 4, w ie is.

e upper edges of provlde the sides 5, t

in full lines in itsthree of which sides, the front and two sides are turned or rolled outwardly and downwardly, as at 6, to obviate sharp edges, as 1s manifest. The rear side wall 5 of the tray 4 is provided with a pair of extended sections or cars which are rolled or turned to provide hinge bearings 7. The tray may be enameled or otherwise finished to prote.-t

the metal and to add to its appearance.

The means'for hingedly sup orting .the tray comprlses a wire stand 8, w ich is bent at suitable equal points from the center of the stand and directed upwardly to provide the opposed door engaging arms 9, which arms terminate at their upper end in the horizontally 'disposed inwardly and right angularly directed short door engaging shoulders 10. Each of the shoulders 10 'terminate at their inner ends in the upwardly and right an arly directed door engaging arms 11 whic 1 terminate at their upper ends the door engaging shoulders 10; The outer ends of the shoulders 13 are directed downwardly at a'right angle to the shoulders 13 to (provide door engaging arms 14, which exten to a point opposite thestand section 8, at which point they are bent and directed laterally a short distance to provide the hinge pin sections 15 which are, receivable in the hinge bearings 7 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The outer ends of the hinge pi n sections 15 of the tray holder are bent and. directed downwardly a short distance at an angle to the hinge pin sections .15, as at 16, and then the lower end of the short holder sections 16 are bent and directed outwardly a short distance at a right angle thereto to provide the horizontally disposed tray enging fingers 17 The short ends 16 and ngers 17 form L-shaped terminals for the holder which engage the rear wall 5 and the bottom wall of the tray to support the tray in its horizontally disposed operative or service osition, as shown in the several views in ful lines and more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.

All sections of the wire stand forming provided,- for the entrance of the glassor members 9'are curved slightly outwardly, as at 19, so as to widen the space between the door engaging arms 9 and 14. at the entering point, as is evident from Fig. 3.

It will be observed from Fig. 2 and more clearlyin Fig. 3, that the door receiving space 20 formed between the arms 9 and 14 and shoulder 10 is wider than the door receiving space 21 within the bounds of the arms 11 and 14 and the shoulder 13. The former space is occupied when the device is appliedto sedan and coup doors which are rather'thick, while the latter space 21 is occupied when the device is applied to a roadster or touring car door which is not as thick as sedan and coup doors.

The space' .and passage designated 22 within the bounds of the loop 12 and the arm 11 and 'inner' end of shoulder 13 is panel or window 2 when it is not fully down, as-shown in Fig. 1, but for any reason is slightly elevated, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In 'Fig. 2, the sedan door is shown in full lines, and the roadster and touring car doors are shown in dotted lines to show the position of the holder as". applied to the diflt'erent'styles of doors.

It. is evident from Fig. 2, that the tray 4 can be moved. to'a raised or folded position so as to -lie in parallel relation with the inner face of'the door when not in use, or when applying or removing the device from a door and when removed from a door and not-in use orfortransportation purposes.

While I have described the device as a curb-service tray, it is self evident and manifest that imy. detachable door tray is not only applicable to automobile doors, but it is practicallto hang or apply the device to.

. any suitable supporting means capable of entrance into any of the holder supporting spaces 20, 21 and 22.

The device is also practical for use as aserving table withinthevehicle while touring, as it provides a convenient'means for supporting refreshments, whether the vehi:

cle is in motion, or standing still.

The many advantages of the herein described invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

I do not wish to be understood as\having limited myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, but desire to have it understood that the invention I have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative, as it is manifest that various minor changes may be made inthe exact construc tion and particular arran ement of arts without departing from t e spirit 0' my invention, hence I reserve the right to make fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed.

What I claim is:

1. In a service tray structure for automobile doors, a single strand of wire bent to provide a pair of spaced parallel arranged hooks connected by the central portion of the strand of wire, the free ends of said strand of wire being bentand directed in opposite directions to provide hinge pin sections, a tray, a hinge bearing formed at the rear'edge of the tray and mounted upon said hinge pin sections and said hingepin sections terminating in L'-shaped supports for the tray to rest upon when disposed in a serving position. 4

2. In combination with a service tray,'a hanger bent at equal points from the center thereof and directed upwardly and then inwardly to provide two door embracing arms, said arms then extending upwardly to provide door glass engaging arms when the glass is partly raised,'said latter arms terminating at their upper ends in curved sections, to provide spring sections, said curved spring sectionste rmi'nating in outwardly directed arms, the inner ends of which at the junction of the .spring sections are adapted to engage the door glass when signed my name to the s ecification.

ROBER CLARKE.

any such changes, or modifications as may the glass is partly raised, the outer ends of said outwardly directed arms terminating 

